Arusha: 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Camping Safari

Four Days Chasing the Big Five Across Tanzania's Three Greatest Parks

You get picked up from your Arusha hotel and driven through three major parks over four days, camping at each one and doing game drives morning and evening. The itinerary covers Tarangire's elephant herds, the Serengeti's migration and predators, and Ngorongoro's crater ecosystem where the big five congregate. All entry fees, meals, accommodation and airport transfers are included, so you show up and the safari runs itself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Pick up from Arusha hotel
• Drive to Tarangire National Park
• Safari game drives in Tarangire
• Drive to campsite for dinner
• Overnight at public campsite

Day 2 — Serengeti National Park Safari

• Breakfast at campsite
• Drive to Serengeti National Park
• Afternoon game drive in Serengeti
• Sunset game drive in Serengeti
• Overnight at Seronera campsite

Day 3 — Serengeti Morning Drive and Ngorongoro

• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Break for lunch
• Drive to Ngorongoro crater rim
• Overnight at Simba campsite

Day 4 — Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return

• Breakfast at campsite
• Safari game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
• Search for the Big Five
• See other wildlife
• Return to Arusha

The Experience

You drive out of Arusha before dawn, heading toward Tarangire National Park with the landscape still cool and the animals moving. The first day moves fast — pickup from your hotel, then straight into game drives where elephants cluster around the river in herds you can actually count, and baobab trees stand like monuments across the plain. By late afternoon you're at the campsite, eating dinner under the African sky with the sounds of the bush around you. It's not luxury, but it's real, and that's the point of this four-day safari.

Day two takes you into the Serengeti after breakfast, and the scale of it hits different when you're actually there — the wildebeest migration, the pride of lions moving across the grassland, cheetahs you spot from the vehicle. You drive in the afternoon and again at sunset, which is when the light turns everything gold and the animals come out to hunt or graze. The Seronera campsite sits in the middle of it, so you're sleeping where the animals are, not driving back to town. Day three starts early — another game drive before you break for lunch, then the drive to Ngorongoro, where the campsite sits on the crater rim itself. You can see down into it from your tent.

The last morning is the Ngorongoro Crater drive, where the big five — lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino, elephant — are all possible in a single day. Hyenas, cheetahs, zebras, everything moves through that enclosed ecosystem. After the game drive, you head back to Arusha, arriving in the afternoon. The whole trip is designed for people who don't have two weeks to spare but want to see the real parks, not a highlight reel. You camp instead of staying in lodges, which keeps the cost down and puts you closer to the actual landscape. Private transportation means your group stays small, and all the logistics — park fees, meals, airport transfers — are already sorted.

What’s included

Your four days include hotel pickup and airport transfers in Arusha, private transportation throughout all three parks, entry fees to Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, all meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on day four, and accommodation at public campsites at each location. Game drives are conducted morning and evening on most days, with a guide who knows the parks and the animals.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats available

Operated by Simba Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the three major parks in one trip without spending a week on safari — the four-day window and camping setup make it affordable and time-efficient, while the private vehicle and included logistics mean you're not coordinating transport, fees or meals yourself.

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Top questions

How many hours of driving is there each day?

Driving time varies by day — the first day is roughly 2–3 hours to Tarangire, the second involves afternoon and sunset game drives in the Serengeti, the third is a morning drive then a longer transfer to Ngorongoro, and the fourth is the crater drive followed by the return to Arusha. Game drives are typically 3–4 hours per session.

What's included in the camping accommodation?

You stay at public campsites at Tarangire, Seronera in the Serengeti, and Simba on the Ngorongoro crater rim. All accommodation, meals and park entry fees are included in the package price.

Is this safari suitable for families with children?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and specialized infant seats are available if needed. The vehicle is wheelchair accessible, and transportation throughout is adapted for accessibility.

What animals am I likely to see?

Tarangire is known for large elephant herds, zebras, giraffes, lions and ostriches. The Serengeti offers wildebeest, lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras and buffalo. Ngorongoro Crater is where you have the best chance of seeing all five of the big five — lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino and elephant — in one day.

Do I need to arrange my own airport transfer?

No. Airport transfers to and from your Arusha hotel are included in the package.

How many people are in a typical group?

The tour uses private transportation, which keeps groups small and allows for a more flexible pace during game drives.

What if I only have 3 days instead of 4?

This is a fixed four-day itinerary. If you have less time, you would need to contact the operator about alternative options.

Is camping safe in these parks?

The campsites are established and managed within the park boundaries. You're camping in designated areas, not in the open bush. The driver and camp staff are experienced with the environment and wildlife protocols.